I'm a Linux user.
All our machines run Linux except for one last Mac.
I could not in all honesty recommend Ubuntu 12.10 to a 'switcher'.
The shock of Canonical Ubuntu Unity interface is just as bad as the idiotic Metro interface from Micro$oft.

Now Linux Mint Mate.. now there is a very polished easy to use highly functional 'out of the box' distro I could recommend to anybody.

Chris